October 2018 Babies

Childcare options for 2

Debating on what to do for 2 in childcare and how to afford it. So these are my options:

1. Nanny for minimum wage (i have someone agreed to do it if i was interested) under the table. Degree in childcare. But worried about socialization.

2. Keep son at current preschool that he loves and thrives in compared to last daycare center. I pay for preschool plus aftercare so its expensive on the first of each month (400 at beginning) but it is much cheaper weekly than everywhere else. Plus taking nb to a separate, local college daycare center, much cheaper than every where else (great reviews). Around 340 week and option to put them together. If i put them both at the college it's even cheaper, but i worry about my son.

I have two in daycare for about $420 per week. I also plan to put the new baby in the same place next January. We briefly discussed a nanny (it’d probably be less expensive) but nixed it pretty quickly for a few reasons - I’m uneasy leaving my kids in the care of just one person and leaving all of my trust in that person. I like the checks and balances of multiple caregivers at daycare. I also would be stuck in a tough spot if the nanny got sick or couldn’t make it one day- whereas at daycare, there again are multiple caregivers to cover an absent employee. I also like the social aspect for my kids, like you mentioned, and it’ll be an easier transition for them to preschool/kindergarten.

For ease of your schedule and pickups/dropoff, I’d choose one place to take both of them if possible.

@katenbail Thanks for your response! I do love that he has so many teachers and not being dependent on one person for all reasons you mentioned. It looks like nanny would be cheapest, preschool plus college 2k more and daycare center for 2 is 4 grand more than the nanny. Sheww. Kids add up quick! Lol.

I have one at an in home daycare and am expecting twins in October. To have 3 in daycare would cost $2400 a month which makes about 0 sense based on what I make at work. I’ll be taking the 18-month mat leave option (Canada) and then staying at home for another 6 months until my oldest goes to kindergarten. Then the twins will go to daycare. Thinking about childcare is so overwhelming!

I’m stressing bad over this! My 2 year old is in daycare full time and thrives there. Now pregnant with twins and I can’t afford three in daycare but neither of us can afford to quit our jobs. I’ll likely be forced to get an aupair bc that’s the only semi affordable option for two babies. I hate the idea of someone living with us but two more daycare tuitions are not an option. Aupairs don’t charge by baby’s so it’s like one Tuition.

Be VERY careful using a nanny under the table and pay a proper going rate for your area not minimum wage. You shouldn’t skimp on your child’s care. If you have a falling out with a nanny they can go to the IRS and say that you didn’t pay correctly per the law and you can receive massive fines, pay all her taxes, all your employment taxes, and a ton of other issues.

Having a nanny is expensive, must be issued a W2, you are an employer registered with the state and Feds and you must take taxes out, have a contract, and pay time and a half for anything over 40 h a week. Research more into this before you try to take the easy way out. The fines and taxes will hurt you badly later if you try to shirk the system.

We had a nanny for our son and daughter (not at the same time). Paid $12/h and monthly that worked out to $2,208 (40 hours a week regular and 4 h overtime at $18/h) plus all employer taxes.

That was to watch one child. It ends up costing around $2,600 a month for one child after all taxes.

Compared to $1,400 a month at Goddard preschool. It costs us $2,400 for two in preschool now. Meals etc covered.

We will have three under 6 in Goddard next year and it will cost $3,600 a month, still less than a nanny for three considering they get care from 0700-1800 daily. It works out to $16.36/h once we have all three in preschool. Baby will start at 4 months, mid will be 2, and oldest 5.

And with a nanny if they call in sick - which they do - you’ll need back up care. At school you’ll also need backup care if your child is sick and has to stay home but that’s easier than a nanny calling in at 0700 saying they can’t make it.

My two children are separate now. My son goes to preschool, where he’s learning and thriving, and my daughter goes to an in home daycare. It would be more convenient to have my son in daycare with her but he gets a lot out of his preschool so I didn’t want to make him miss out for my convenience.

Au pairs are about $350 a week no matter how many kids you have and can stay up to 2 years. It's been amazing for us and our kids. I never miss work for a sick kid, the kids still get lots of opportunities to socialize.

Wow, these prices are low! For just one in daycare our center charges $500 per week. So two would be roughly double minus a ten percent sibling discount. And that's the cheapest daycare I could find. Nannies charge $27-35 an hour for two little ones (mine will be 2 under 2). Weighing whether to quit my job but very torn.

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